Rishikesh: Environment activist GD Agarwal, who was sitting on an indefinite hunger strike demanding the government to clean the river Ganga, died at the AIIMS hospital here on Thursday, officials said. He was on fast since June 22 this year. Agarwal breathed his last at the hospital here at around 2 pm.

He was moved to the AIIMS hospital, Rishikesh on October 9 from the protest site.

Agarwal alias Swami Gyan Vyapar Sanand died at the age of 87 years, after fasting for a period only slightly shorter than four months. During his fast unto death, he only consumed water and honey. His protest was against mining and hydropower projects on rover Ganga, considered among the holiest rivers in the country.

Earlier this week, while speaking at a press conference he said that he has been on a fast for over 100 days and would sacrifice his live for the river Ganga. He had said, "My fast will finish after my death."

He has studied from institutes like Indian Institute of Technology and University of California, Berkeley. He was also a professor at IIT.